Sir Alex Ferguson's private chat shows what awaits Newcastle in Alexander Isak transfer saga

Sir Alex Ferguson's private chat about losing Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid speaks volumes about the fate Newcastle United face should Alexander Isak depart. Following his £60million move to the Magpies from Real Sociedad in 2023, the Swedish striker has wasted no time whatsoever in becoming a legend on Tyneside.

The 25-year-old has managed 62 goals and 11 assists in 109 outings and was instrumental to the club's fifth-place finish last season as well as their Carabao Cup trophy, scoring the decisive goal in Newcastle's 2-1 win over Premier League champions Liverpool in the final.

But he's put his Newcastle legacy in serious jeopardy by confirming that he wishes to explore his options away from St. James' Park this summer. And should Isak be allowed to leave his current club ahead of the new season, former Magpies boss Pardew has noted how Eddie Howe will be up against it in trying to find a replacement.

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Speaking on talkSPORT, Pardew said: "These are the tests you get as a Premier League manager, whether you're at the top of the league, in the middle or at the bottom. You're going to get tests and Eddie's getting tested here by one of his main players."

Pardew also recalled how Ferguson was once in a similar predicament when Ronaldo parted ways with the Red Devils in the summer of 2009, leaving the legendary Manchester United manager aware that he would be unable to find a like-for-like replacement for one of football's greatest-ever players, who was at the time just hitting his prime.

He added: "I remember Alex Ferguson talking about Ronaldo. It was a game just before he was about to leave. I said, ‘How are you going to replace him?’ He said, ‘Well, I'm not going to be able to replace him. There's no one who can do the numbers, right?’

"And Isak would be exactly the same. He's not going to get anyone who can do those numbers that Isak can do. So, you're going to have to spread it around and buy two players. That's what Fergie did.

"I think he said, ‘I'm going to buy two or three to try and replicate what he does within the team unit.' And that's what Eddie is going to have to do."

Ferguson's assumptions of being unable to find an outright replacement for Ronaldo were quickly proven right. While the now 83-year-old will have had high hopes for Michael Owen, Gabriel Obertan and Mame Diouf, they fell well short of the pace, precision and sheer skill that Ronaldo brought to the starting XI.

For context, Diouf lasted just three years with the Red Devils, making just nine appearances for the first team before he was sold on to Hanover 96, while Obertan played 27 times before he was sold on to Newcastle in 2011. Owen, meanwhile, scored 17 goals in 52 appearances before joining Stoke City in 2012.

Newcastle have endured a lacklustre summer transfer window thus far, with Anthony Elanga's £55m transfer from Nottingham Forest coming as the side's marquee signing. It's not for a lack of trying, however, with the Magpies linked with the likes of James Trafford, Bryan Mbeumo and Hugo Ekitike, only for them to join Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.

Braced for the potential departure of Isak in the coming weeks, the Magpies are currently monitoring the situation of RB Leipzig striker, Benjamin Sesko, who has impressed in the Bundesliga at the age of just 22. However, they face stiff competition from the Red Devils in their pursuit, given Ruben Amorim is still on the hunt for a proven No. 9 to lead his attacking line, and are hindered by reports that Sesko favours a move to the north west instead of the north east.

The good news for Newcastle fans is that there aren't actually many teams who can afford a mega-money swoop for Isak this summer, given that the Magpies firmly value the star at a staggering £150m. On Friday it was reported that Newcastle had also swiftly rebuffed Liverpool's first official offer totalling £120m for the talisman, after months of speculation on whether they would make an audacious approach considering they've already spent a guaranteed £100m on Florian Wirtz.

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